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Indiana farmer, 1906, v. 61, no. 15 (Apr. 14)

Page 1

VOL. LXI
INDIANAPOLIS, APRIL 14, 1906.
NO. 15
Why Young Men Leave the Farm.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
For many years the writer has read discissions bearing upon the above subject.
It would seem that nothing new can be
added. Whether the ideas I shall give
are new or old to my readers I know not,
hut after studying the matter over many
tlines, the conclusions which I have reached seem reasonable to me, and these ideas
are now to be submitted to the readers of
the Farmer.
For a number of years I was a reader
nt a noted magazine published in this
country. The magazine has a great circulation and influences no doubt thousands
ut' young men who live on the farms. I
desire to say nothing against this magazine. I only desire to call attention to
one thing which it seems to me it does. It
magnifies the importance of the 'business
man and leads many to think that in no
ether line of work can great success be
achieved.
The farmer boy who reads this magazine, reads over and over of young men
born on the farm, but who not being content to stay there sought employment In
the cities. There they rose step by step
to positions of honor and trust in the
i Msiuess world. To-day they tower above
heir fellows who strayed o nthe farms, as
does the oak above the tiny shrub. I wish
to limit this statement by adding that
many people so regard them as "captains
of industry." A few take another view
of the matter.
Xow, the farmer boy of to-day rea.ls
the leading magazines just as his city
cousin <3oes. Do you wonder that his
imagination is fired and that he is stirred
throughout his whole being by articles
that tell of the great successes in the
business world? The farmer boy is ambitious to make a success of life. Many
straightaway conclude that they have no
■ hance to rise on the farm. Dissatisfac-
t on soon leads many to give up the place
tor which nature fitted them, for lives of
anxiety and turmoil iu the cities. Many
of our leading magazines have been very
iiiliucntial in bringing to pass this condition.
But one says: "Surely you would uot
put a ban on articles telling how the farmer boy rose from his lowly position to a
position of honor in the business world?"
Indeed. I would not. Many farmer
Isiys should seek places in the business
world: By nature many are fitted for
such positions and would make failures if
tliey stayed on the farms. But I would
have another side given. I would
hive the stories of how farmers have risen
in their own profession to places that are
worthy of as much honor as any place in
'lie business world.
I would have thhe farmer boy consider
"is along with the story of the suceess-
'ul business man. Perhaps he would
*-ee that, after all, the farmer's success is
just as great as the success of the business
man.
Thousands of examples can <be given
'(here young men have started with almost nothing but strong hands and willing
' arts, and as the years passed by ac-
'i'lired fine farms and a competency for
'heir old days. Why are not some or
these examples held up before our boys?
Several years ago I often read in news-
l'apers and magazines of a great business
man whose name was a synonym for in-
'''grity and great success.
Time and time again the life of this
hi was held up as an example of what
:" man ean accomplish in the business
v°r\_\. So much was said and written
about this man that he became almost au
idol to me. How fortunate, I ufteir
thought, it was that this man did not
spend his life on the farm! How much
the world would have lost if he had! But,
there is a darker side to consider. This
man. respected and idolizetl as he was, no
longer sits on his throne of success. His
name is cast out as evil. The insurance
investigation in Xew York proved that his
seeming success was builded on insecure
foundations. And now we see how much
better it would have been if this man had
been contented to wrest from mother
earth his living. Perhaps he would
have remained honest and given to his
family the priceless heritage of a gocd
sense, they tue all separate sciences, but
in another tliey are only branches of the
same, because they are governed by the
same basic rules which must he obeyed to
secure success, anil as we might say 'he
rainier is an extensive gardener, and the
gardener, an intensive farmer. They aie
all equally important to the welfare and
comfort, nay, the very existence of the
community. Let us imagine, for 'he
sake of illustration, that the raising of
crops, cattle, milk, fruit and vegetables,
till on the world should cease entirely for
one year. The cessation of any other industry that could be named, or indeed of
all the industries, would not have so disastrous an effect on the human race.
Competitive exhibitors, when conducted
as they should be, without the introdnc
tion of degrading and demoralizing aide
shows to draw crowds, have been great
factors in the progress of agriculture an.!
have also tended to make it popular with
the public. Farmers' Institutes, Granges
aud clubs have also been productive of
much good, because they are not only the
means of exchange of experience, but also
minister to the social needs by bringing the
members together.
In view of these conditions, there seems
(o be good encouragement for young men
to make agiculture in some of its branches
their life work. There is none which is
so conducive to health and longevity. According to recent statistics, the farmer's
life average is far longer than that of ordi
nary dwellers in towns. Again he has tht
best chance to enjoy domestic pleasures.
His work is at home, his wife is his advisory assistant, and. if they have a family, the children will he immediately uniler
their care, antl will receive and enjoy
object lessons on the farm which city
children caunot enjoy except occasionally.
Children we brought, up will prove the best
crop on the farm. We cannot all be
farmers, but many may; ami if they will
pay attention to their work; study the best
methods and make practical use of their
knowledge, they will succeed. Putting
his trust in Providence, and heping himself, athough he may not become a millionaire a farmer can become a patriot
and philanthropist which is better, because it will have achieved his success out
of his brain and muscle, and not out of
the necessities of his fellow men.
W .K. <;.
name. He would not have made his
millions, it is true, but he would have
been worth more in- the end than all the
wealth of the world. He could die rich
in integrity: rich in the respect of his fellows; rich in the sight of God.
Farmer boy, don't leave the farm without great consideration. Don't let the
story of some great business career prove
the siren song that shall lead you to destruction. Consider that there is no life
on earth so independent, so healthful, so
full of opportunities for advancement, so
free from temptations as the life of a
farmer. Weigh these things on the
same balance that you weigh the success
of the business man and see whether
the scales don't indicate a life for you on
the farm.' F. H. Arnold.
Pike Co.
The Importance of Agriculture.
Bdltors Indiana Farmer
Few people realize the fact that agriculture is the most important occupation, as
regards the welfare of mankind and the
prosperity of nations. All must be fed
before they are in a condition to prosecute
their various callings, and are dependent
upon the agriculturist in the first place for
their food supply and for the abundance
of its production. It has been well said
that "he is a benefactor to his race who
causes two blades of grass to grow where
one hns grown before." If we
make agriculture a generic tenn.
we shall include in it all tlie
branches of culture, namely: Horticulture, the care, knowledge and cultivation
of plants, pomology, of fruits; forestry, if
trees; and floriculture, ef flowers. In one
History teaches us that the ancient nations attached due importance to agriculture. The riches of the Israelites were
their numerous flocks and herds. The
Egyptians were good wheat raisers, for
there always seemed to be corn in Egypt
We read of the famous hanging gardens
of the Babylonians. The Greeks had
gods antl goddesses whom they supposed
had influence over their crops and cattle.
The Unmans practiced all the branches of
agriculture on a most extensive scale, to
minister both to the necessities and luxuries of their people, and made grants of
land and farm materials to their victorious
warriors.
Modern nations which are the most
civilized and progressive encourage agriculture, as of the utmost importance to
their prosperity and happiness, and it has
now been in many instances elevated to
the rank of a scientific calling. We have
schools, colleges, bureaus and experiment
farm's, with their staffs of learned professors, who not only impart instruction
to students who attend the classes, but
publish bulletins explanatory of their
wink and its results, which are distributed either gratis or for a nominal price to
all applicants. Then the agricultural
press has become a powerful medium for
the dissemination of agricultural and horticultural information.
There was a time when the name
■farmer" was a by-word among dwellers
in cities, but this has all passed away.
The appliance of machinery to agriculture
has helped to raise it in importance. It
has done away in a great measure with
the slavory of farming and gardening, and
given opportunity fo do the work more
promptly and rapidly.
Indiana Qood Enough.
Bdltors Indians Fsrmer
In your issue of March 3, I saw an article from O. 0. Elliott, of Hamilton county
headed, "Go South, Young Man."
1 read his article with much interest,
as I spent last summer in Alabama. Xow.
I will not undertake to give the young
man he referred to any advice; but will
tell him what I did. On account of
ill health I decided to try to find a climate
that would be beneficial. So in October,
1903, we started for the much talked of
Southwest Oklahoma, arriving there in
December.
The first year we were well pleased
with the climate, but did not think the
territory would near come up to Indiana
as a farming country. But along in
January when the mercury fell to 18 degrees below zero, with 6 inches of snow
on the ground, and the wind blowicg
about 00 miles an hour, and I was sick in
bed, we decided that Oklahoma was no
place for us. Just at this time we Haw
an article in the Indiana Farmer, (we
thought we couldn't do without that nun h
esteemed farm paper) written by an otd
neighbor and friend, Charles I>, Barker,
of Fruitdale, Ala., speaking in the highest
praise of that country as to climate and
as a fruit and vegetable country, telling
what wonderful profits could be made in
trucking and fruit growing. So we again
packed our goods and started for the
"Sunny Sonth."
To say that we were disappointed is
putting it very mildly, but there we were
and with an empty purse had to stay. We
rented a house and three acres of land,
for which we paid $7 per month. I :n-
vested about $12 in fertilizers, as t_be old
residents said it wasn't of any use to plant
even a black-eyed pea without putting a
handful of fertilizer with it. So with
sleeves lulled up and hopes high we went

Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes.

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2011-01-27

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Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes.

VOL. LXI
INDIANAPOLIS, APRIL 14, 1906.
NO. 15
Why Young Men Leave the Farm.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
For many years the writer has read discissions bearing upon the above subject.
It would seem that nothing new can be
added. Whether the ideas I shall give
are new or old to my readers I know not,
hut after studying the matter over many
tlines, the conclusions which I have reached seem reasonable to me, and these ideas
are now to be submitted to the readers of
the Farmer.
For a number of years I was a reader
nt a noted magazine published in this
country. The magazine has a great circulation and influences no doubt thousands
ut' young men who live on the farms. I
desire to say nothing against this magazine. I only desire to call attention to
one thing which it seems to me it does. It
magnifies the importance of the 'business
man and leads many to think that in no
ether line of work can great success be
achieved.
The farmer boy who reads this magazine, reads over and over of young men
born on the farm, but who not being content to stay there sought employment In
the cities. There they rose step by step
to positions of honor and trust in the
i Msiuess world. To-day they tower above
heir fellows who strayed o nthe farms, as
does the oak above the tiny shrub. I wish
to limit this statement by adding that
many people so regard them as "captains
of industry." A few take another view
of the matter.
Xow, the farmer boy of to-day rea.ls
the leading magazines just as his city
cousin <3oes. Do you wonder that his
imagination is fired and that he is stirred
throughout his whole being by articles
that tell of the great successes in the
business world? The farmer boy is ambitious to make a success of life. Many
straightaway conclude that they have no
■ hance to rise on the farm. Dissatisfac-
t on soon leads many to give up the place
tor which nature fitted them, for lives of
anxiety and turmoil iu the cities. Many
of our leading magazines have been very
iiiliucntial in bringing to pass this condition.
But one says: "Surely you would uot
put a ban on articles telling how the farmer boy rose from his lowly position to a
position of honor in the business world?"
Indeed. I would not. Many farmer
Isiys should seek places in the business
world: By nature many are fitted for
such positions and would make failures if
tliey stayed on the farms. But I would
have another side given. I would
hive the stories of how farmers have risen
in their own profession to places that are
worthy of as much honor as any place in
'lie business world.
I would have thhe farmer boy consider
"is along with the story of the suceess-
'ul business man. Perhaps he would
*-ee that, after all, the farmer's success is
just as great as the success of the business
man.
Thousands of examples can , Barker,
of Fruitdale, Ala., speaking in the highest
praise of that country as to climate and
as a fruit and vegetable country, telling
what wonderful profits could be made in
trucking and fruit growing. So we again
packed our goods and started for the
"Sunny Sonth."
To say that we were disappointed is
putting it very mildly, but there we were
and with an empty purse had to stay. We
rented a house and three acres of land,
for which we paid $7 per month. I :n-
vested about $12 in fertilizers, as t_be old
residents said it wasn't of any use to plant
even a black-eyed pea without putting a
handful of fertilizer with it. So with
sleeves lulled up and hopes high we went